From: ephemeral@ephemeralfic.org Date: 28 Jul 2002 02:46:28 -0000 Subject: Tally Ho by MichaelsAngel Source: direct Reply To: MichaelsAngelfic@aol.com Title: Tally Ho! Part 1 of 2 Author: MichaelsAngel Feedback: MichaelsAngelfic@aol.com Category: TRA M&S Disclaimer: Just borrowing Spoilers: memories from Pilot&Tooms Thanks: My lovin hubby for all The X-files DVDs and support. DD for the interviews & portrayal that inspired much of this fic.GA, LilMel,her dad,my Mom&Dad,&Frankie Tally Ho! Part 1 of 2 FBI Building Washington DC. Friday 8:36 AM Agent Fox Mulder sat at this desk basement office of the Federal building. He was tall, lean, and yet a muscular man. Strikingly handsome. Medium brown hair that stuck up from his head in a stylish way. His long fingers flipped the pages of a file. He needed only to glance at the pages to commit them to memory. Any woman walking by would have stopped in her tracks just to look at him. Women stopping to look never was a problem. Women running away when they heard about his sister's alien abduction, not so much a problem, as a reality. One, that didn't really matter all that much to him. He had his work and he had his partner, Scully. It was just that lately Mulder felt a heaviness in his heart. It was getting harder to continue on the way he had been. The strange things in the X-files that used to excite him now seemed to lack the allure they once had. The exuberance he once felt was being replaced with a sense of defeat. He looked at the file, and tried to console himself with the fact that he at least didn't feel indifference towards it. At least indifference wasn't the reason he didn't feel like continuing. It was more that he felt a failure, in his quest, in his life, and in love. He knew he was becoming what was known as soul sick. He knew he always did have a form of it. But this soul sickness was stealing his resilience. He felt like a basketball that was just too deflated to bounce back up. Heavy and dense, in need of something to pump him back up because he just couldn't do it by himself. The thought came to his head that Scully should be along any minute and that she would probably be pretty angry. He hoped not for long. She was already being sort of mean to him the last month and he didn't really understand why. But it wasn't like he'd forgotten what it used to be like and she how she used to treat him. From there he sort of went into a reverie about their first case together. He remembered how great it felt to introduce Scully to a whole new world of things she never before even considered. He remembered how exciting it was to get to know each other. He thought about when he first told her about loosing his sister Samantha. He sat on the floor of the hotel room with his back leaning on the bed that Scully lay on above him. He remembered how she let him talk about himself, and how she seemed interested in his answers, and how she asked questions that encouraged him to tell her more. There was something about Scully and the way she looked at him that made him feel like, he could tell her. Like he should tell her. How would she know anything about him or what she was getting into if he didn't? Part of him was a little bit afraid that she'd run, but more of him had to know if she'd stay. At the time he only half realized that he might have appeared crazy. When he was a little younger the more people didn't believe him the more fervently he tried to tell them it was true. Consequently the more you do that the more insane you appear. But Scully didn't recoil. Her eyes softened, and showed only empathy for him. Even if she didn't fully believe it. Instead of running she listened, and as she lay there on the bed looking back at him, his heart told him that his days of loneliness were over. It was a big moment for him, that moment. He remembered it as if it were part of his soul. But it was different these days. Early on Scully would touch him more often. She'd say things to him he couldn't believe any one would ever say to him. Things like "Mulder I wouldn't put myself on the line for anybody but you." Things like that, that shocked him to his core, and made him wonder if he should kiss her. But more than any thing he missed her touch. Somewhere along the way other Agents had caught them touching hands. Rumors circulated, small ones but enough to make her distance herself. He hated that. And he hated them for driving her to it. He tried not to, but he did. It didn't matter to him what people thought. If it did he never would have made it through a single day of his life. But he knew it mattered to Scully. He knew she worked hard to get respect, and that she valued privacy. Lately she had been so distant, cold, and sometimes even mean, that it was killing him. She would prattle on about holes in his theories on cases, as if he'd never said a valid word in his life. He was beginning to find it insulting. But the worst part of it was he felt like she was doing it just to keep him away. Like she was building walls to keep him out. It hurt him. So much so that he'd gone and done something he probably shouldn't have done. He heard her little high healed feet clicking down the hallway. He knew it was time. He braced him self by appearing to be engrossed in his file. Scully walked into the office. Her pretty red hair swung slightly forward and then neatly back into place as she stopped and stood in front of his desk. She noticed he was looking intently at his file. He didn't fool her, she knew he didn't need that long to memorize a page much less read it. Mulder could pick up the subtle scent of her perfume. He wanted to look at her but he could tell with out even looking up, that she was angry. "Mulder" She said in a rather annoyed tone. "Hey Scully." He said glancing only for a second and then back to the file. She was dressed sharply, black jacket, white button up shirt with the collar flipped out over the jacket collar. Her small golden cross perfectly centered to accentuate her delicate neck. Every thing in nicely in place, fair complexion, full pouty lips. He was certainly not sorry he looked. He was certainly not sorry he had a photographic memory. "Mulder." She said again still annoyed. He realized there was no way this was blowing over, he might as well face it. "What Scully?" he said giving her his attention. "Mulder, Skinner has just informed me that we are off to Cooperstown, New York this weekend to investigate a murder." Scully said still peeved. "I know that Scully." Mulder said and looked back at the file, which annoyed her further. "Mulder he said it was just a plain old run of the mill serial killing. Not an X-file. Mulder are you paying attention. It's not an X-file." Scully said sharply. "Skinner said it was a "plain old run of the mill serial killing?" Now there's a sentence that says there is something desperately wrong with society." Mulder replied. "Mulder how did we get on this case? Through Skinner, or did you request it?!" Scully asked. "I requested it." Mulder said. Scully could not help from stomping her little shoe. "Scully I know it will be hard for you to miss your mothers birthday.but." Mulder started. "But it's not even an X-file Mulder.Why do you want it? Do you even need me on this?" Scully said. * Do I need you? What kind of a stupid question is that? Need. Damn straight I do. This whole thing is because I need you.* He thought to himself. "Scully, it's just that." he tried to come up with some explanation, only to be cut off by her again. "Mulder you knew.. I told you that it was my mother's birthday and I told you I was looking forward to spending time with her. You know work is as important to me as it is to you... but I wanted this one break. This one break, for my mother. I just wanted one moment away from the Thingies, What-evers and What-have-yous." Scully said. " "Thingies, What-evers and What-have-yous?" Scully, where's the tenderness? That's not very P.C. I believe, the preferred term is "categorically challenged." " Mulder quipped "The "tenderness" Mulder. most likely ran off with your consideration. Wherever that may be." She said folding her arms and turning away angrily. Mulder was instantly sorry. He didn't mean to hurt Scully. It pained him to think he was the cause of her anger. He got up from the desk and walked around it. "Sorry Scully." He said and waited for her to turn toward him. When she didn't he stepped in front of her. He bent his knees and lowered his head so he could catch her eye. He put his hands on her folded arms. All his energy was focused on her. It was too impossible to resist him. Scully would find it hard to admit to herself, but if there was something he wanted from her, there was nothing she could do to keep from giving in. He was being so warm and tender now that she relented and met his eye. His eyes said * come with me.* She was the center of his attention and she enjoyed it. She berated her self right away for enjoying it, but she did. She soaked him in. There was something about Mulder that was so strong and seductive. He didn't know how easily he could get her to crumble. How smooth he could be. And as she knew what she was about to do, she knew part of her wanted to. "Are there more lives at stake?" She asked. "Yes." Mulder said and then he slowly let go of her and stepped back a little. "Then I guess we'll have to go." She answered, but this time in a tone that sounded more like frustration than it did anger. Mulder nodded his head in a gesture that said thank you and agreement all at once. Scully knew her mom would be upset. But she also knew she would never forgive herself, if she let Mulder go alone, and didn't have his back when he needed it. Scully took out her cell and started dialing her mom. She put all her weight on one foot and waited for her mother's voice. Mulder looked at Scully as he went around his desk towards the chair. He wondered why she agreed to go with him. He wondered why she stayed with him at all. He wondered if it meant that she cared more than she let on. He was relieved that she would go with him on this case, but he would not have stopped her if she had ultimately decided to stay with her mom. His thoughts once again returned to their first case together. He remembered how she showed up at his hotel door, wearing only her robe. How he said "hi" in away that suggested his surprise and that she told him that she wanted him to look at something. He invited her in. He had trouble with the dumb door. He finally got it shut, and gave her his full attention. She stood their seemingly preparing herself for something. As she started to take off her robe, his head swam with a million possibilities as to what her intention was. None of them were remotely correct and all had to do with the fact that he watched way too much porn. He remembered that even during his shock he was thinking how he had no idea she had such a great body under her clothes. He knew he must have just been standing there stupidly because she looked at him and gestured with her eyes to her lower back. Her glance at him shook out of his stupor somewhat, and he realized she wanted him to look at something on her lower back. He knelt down to look. Using the candle he had for light, he examined the bumps there. He touched her skin near the markings; he tried not to think about how soft it was. She asked him what the markings were. He didn't want to answer until he was sure. Poor Scully must have gotten frightened by his delay because she, sort of yelled out "Mulder what are they?!" He saw that they were mosquito bites and told her so. When he stood back up, she tossed on her robe and threw herself instinctively into his arms. He was so caught off guard by it he nearly fell over. He warmed at the thought that she would seek him for comfort. He remembered how surprised he was that she would do that, having only met him recently. He thought about how much that meant to him, to have someone trust him that way so quickly. Her hair was in his face, and despite the fact that they had gotten caught in the rain earlier, it smelled good. He grew more serious as he felt her body, so close to his, shaking with fear. For a moment he held her and for a second he caressed her shoulder with his hand. Then not knowing if that was appropriate to do, he patted it awkwardly. He asked if she was all right. She said she was and began to straighten out her robe, but still she lingered near to him. He told her she was trembling. He tried to catch her eyes but in her embarrassment over what just happened she wouldn't look. He wished she would. He knew that if she had she would see there was nothing to be embarrassed about. Instead she pulled away and told him sort of flatly that she just needed to sit down. He was sorry he had mentioned the trembling, maybe she would have remained near to him if he hadn't. It seemed to him that after that, a pattern was established and any time she showed him any affection she would instantly run away. That always hurt. But it hurt even more that those times where becoming fewer and farther between. He felt like it had been ages since she'd shown him she cared. Maybe she didn't any more. Or maybe she just thought he was getting the wrong idea about their friendship, and was setting up some boundaries. But how could it be wrong? How could he be wrong when his heart ached so badly for her? Then he realized he hadn't heard a single thing she'd just said to her mother. Scully hung up the phone. "What did she say Scully?' Mulder asked. "She said it was alright, that we'd spend time when I got back." Scully said. Mulder felt bad for Mrs. Scully. He loved his own mother but there was something even more motherly about Mrs. Scully than his own mom. He actually liked it when Mrs. Scully called him Fox. It made him feel like she thought of him as a son. "Did you tell her I was sorry also?" he asked. "Why didn't you say that when I was on the phone? No, I didn't tell her." Scully said even more annoyed than before. "Tell her next time" He said his voice revealing his remorse for what he'd done to spoil Mrs. Scully's birthday. Scully could tell he was sorry and her heart softened towards him. She knew that during her abduction a special relationship between her mother and Mulder had developed. Scully was reminded of that bond every time her mother asked if "Fox" was taking care of himself. Something she asked regularly. "I will." She reassured him. "Go home and get packed Scully, I'll swing by to pick you up." Mulder said. "Yeah, okay." Scully said and walked out of the office. She suddenly realized he had not told her what the case was about. She thought that was kind of odd. He usually was so eager to tell her, and to crack out the slides. She guessed there was something about the shock value of the slides that he got a kick out of. She knew there was a bit of him that enjoyed shocking a room, even if she was the only one in it. She wondered why he chose to forgo it this time. *Find out later I guess.* She said to herself. Mulder picked up Scully at her home. She got in the passenger side of the car and slammed the door. He got in the driver's seat. He was tentative at first but he decided to ask any way. "All set to go Scully? Everything okay?" Mulder asked. "Besides the fact that my brother just reamed me over the phone for about a half hour. Yeah I'm ready to go, and everything's great." She said in a real ask me one more thing and I'll bite your head off sort of way. Mulder started the car and figured it would be better if he just, kept quiet. For the first few hours they sort of sat quietly as they drove. Scully watched the scenery go by until it lulled her to sleep. Mulder knew Scully probably hadn't noticed that he wasn't having an easy time lately. He couldn't explain it but lately things just seemed to be getting to him. It was compounded by the fact that Scully had been so distant. His nights were feeling particularly long. He looked over at Scully, she was the person he felt closest too, and yet she seemed so far away. He longed for things to be different. Things just seemed so cold. He looked at the sky for a moment. The air looked frigid. He glanced at the trees and they seemed kind of stiff and frozen, like they might crack from a lack of warmth. He looked over at Scully she looked warm. He wanted to hold her. He pretty much figured out there was no way that was going to happen tonight, and then he felt a pain, a pain that seemed like a fracturing through his heart. He knew what it was. He needed something. He needed to know that he was loved. He needed to know he was loved by Scully. If he wasn't, if she didn't love him, then what did that make him? If she could love him then that was something. If someone like Scully could love him, then there must be something worth while about him. Mulder decided he needed some relief from his own thoughts, and from the dull aching in his heart. He turned on the radio. Some Bruce Springsteen song was on. Bruce was singing something about a Tunnel of love and a man needing a woman. Bruce sounded kind of urgent about it. But he always sounded urgent. It was nearly over and Mulder never got the chance to hear what it was all about. When the next song came on it was too late to help him. It already faded into the background of his own thoughts. Any chance he had of distracting himself was long gone. With out taking his eyes off the road he reached between their seats for some sunflower seeds. He didn't know that Scully's hand had fallen near the bag as she slept. He accidentally brushed her hand with his. She stirred, and a little pleasured sounding groan came from her. The slight touch of her skin against his and her response to it set a little smile across his lips. He felt kind of relieved for two reasons: A) That it happened at all and B) That she didn't wake up. He was tempted to do it again, but he wasn't going to take any chances. He took a sunflower seed, placed it to his lips, and pulled it into his mouth with his tongue. He sucked all the salt off of it. The salty taste felt like it was filling his tongue. A feeling he liked. He slid it sideways between his back teeth so he could split it open. It cracked. He moved it forward in his mouth put a little more pressure on it and released the seed. He used the tip of his tongue to scoop out the seed and any remaining salt inside the shell. By now he'd pushed the split shells to the front of his lips so he could pull out the remnants with his fingers. He took the shells and put them into an already overflowing ashtray. He chewed the sunflower seed till it nearly disintegrated and he swallowed it. He reached for another seed. He repeated the process continuously along the drive. When he had his fill of seeds he found himself wondering if Scully's lips were salty. He folded his own lower lip between his teeth and bit down slightly and as they passed a sign that said Cooperstown, 20 miles he told himself not to think about her lips. Mulder started wondering what he'd done and why he'd done it. Why did he pull Scully away from her mother this weekend? What did he think was going to happen here? Why did he have this nagging feeling that he'd made a mistake? Hickory Grove Motor Inn, Cooperstown NY 10:30 PM. Friday Mulder and Scully arrived at their hotel room. They took separate but adjoining rooms. They each carried their own bags into their rooms. Mulder listened as Scully's door clicked shut and locked. Then he retreated inside his own room clicking his own door shut. The first thing he did was turn on the TV. He searched for the Sci-Fi channel. He found it. Plan 9 from Outer Space was on, only it was on Mystery Science Theater 3000, and he couldn't count it. Watching it with commentary didn't count. At least he didn't think it counted. By the same token he wondered if watching it without sound would count. If it did count he could lower the volume so as not to hear the comments, and that might make it count. That didn't seem right so he decided that, that didn't count either. He decided that only watching it in its entirety, uninterrupted, with sound and picture counted. The current tally would stand. Then he took off his shoes and jacket and lay on the bed. He looked over at the adjoining door knowing Scully was on the other side of it. Scully knew that by 11:21 PM. Mulder would be calling. It was that time of the night that got him thinking. He was almost compulsive that way. But when something that traumatic happens to you, everything reminds you. The number 1121 reminded him of his sister Samantha, as it was her birthday. Scully guessed that the time was so ingrained in his subconscious that felt the time coming on his internal clock, and just automatically fell into the pattern of thinking about Samantha. She was sure that he really did think about what happened to Samantha all the time. But it was the number that perhaps drove him a little crazy and made it harder to keep suppressed. She swore sometimes, even she could sense the time was about to be 11:21. Sometimes she thought it was because she'd been conditioned to. But sometimes she felt like she sensed Mulder somehow, and knew he was about to call. She'd never spoken about it to him. It was something she didn't have to speak about. She just needed to be understanding when the phone rang. And she always did her best to be understanding with him, when it came to Samantha. Scully got herself ready for bed, and she was already in it, by the time the phone rang. "You sleeping?" Mulder asked as soon as she answered. "Not yet." She said Her voice sounded a little raspy and sexy. His heart pounded a little. "I didn't tell you about the case yet." He said. She knew it was an excuse. She didn't mind being there for him. In fact she'd be savagely jealous if he ever turned to someone else. "Aren't you tired Mulder? You drove the whole way here." She said "I am kinda." He admitted. "I would have driven some of the way." She said softly. "I know." He said "I'm sorry about your mom's birthday Scully I didn't mean to ruin it for you." He said. His voice was warm and tender and truly sincere. His voice did something to her soul. She held the phone tenderly to her ear, as if in some way she could send forgiveness physically through it. "It's okay Mulder really, you don't have to worry about it. I am going to call my mother tomorrow to apologize again and wish her a happy birthday, I'll tell her you're sorry too." She said. Mulder was silent. "You're tired you should rest now." She said. "You don't want to hear about the case?" he said. "You can tell me tomorrow. Go to sleep now Mulder." She said. Mulder listened to the tone in Scully's voice. It wasn't nagging or bored or even trying to rush him off. It was sort of sweet, and conveyed real true concern. And full of, dare he believe it, love. His heart thumped again. It sounded like love. "Okay." He said, hoping he wasn't kidding himself. "Goodnight Mulder." She said warmly. "Night Scully, see you tomorrow." Mulder said and hung up the phone. Maybe this trip *had * been a good idea. Maybe she was warming up to him again. He drifted off to sleep recalling the sound of her voice in his ear. "You can tell me tomorrow. Go to sleep now Mulder." Go to sleep. Scully found it a little harder to sleep having slept nearly the whole trip. She opened a book she took with her and began to read it. But her own experience was not unlike his, she was feeling like she could rest after saying goodnight to him over the phone. And even though it was through the phone, it was something very intimate between them. 9:25 AM Cooperstown, NY Saturday. Scully gave Mulder more time to sleep after the long drive over. But at 9:25 she figured it was time to knock and get rolling. Mulder came out of his room dressed and ready to go. They got in the car and headed over to the nearest 7/11 to get some coffee. "So what's the case about Mulder?" Scully asked. "Hunter." Mulder answered. "Excuse me." Scully answered. "Hunter's being hunted. Men who pump bullets into unsuspecting animals seem to be the target of the murders." Mulder said. "So animal activists are an X-file?" Scully said. "I don't think it's animal activists Scully." Mulder said. "What then? An angry hunting buddy seeking revenge on the moron who shot off his toe?" Scully said. "No. I like that guess though. It's got a whole cartoon like drunken hunters imagery to it." Mulder said. "Mulder you are not going to tell me that the deer are shooting back!" Scully said. Mulder chuckled, as he stopped the car in the 7/11 parking lot. "That has great imagery too Scully. Can't you just see Deer trying to shoot rifles, only to find they have hoofs instead of trigger fingers. It kind of Warner Brothers, Bugs Bunnyesque." Mulder said. "Would you cut it out, I am not trying to be funny. I'm wondering if I passed up my Mothers birthday party for imaginary psycho killer Deer." Scully said. "Don't worry Scully, I doubt its deer. But what it is, is another story." Mulder said. With that Mulder got out of the car and headed into the 7/11. Scully followed as fast as her little legs could carry. It wasn't enough to catch up to him. Once inside the 7/11. Scully mixed up two coffees. She went out ahead of him to the car and set the coffee cups in the drink holder of the car. Mulder grabbed up two Danish's in his big hand. He paid the cashier for everything. Mulder put both the Danish in his jacket pocket and walked out of the 7/11. When he got inside the car Mulder held out one of the Danish to Scully. "Ta da!" He said Scully went to grab at the Danish. Her hand touched his as she grasped at it. Mulder playfully caught her wrist with his other hand. Not too hard, just enough to hold her there. "What are you doi.." Scully started to ask. "You have to say Thank you, first." Mulder said. She looked him straight in the eyes as if to say *give me a break.* But it only took a second for her to see that there was something else behind his eyes. Mulder felt the soft skin of Scully's wrist in his hand. He thought about the sound of her voice from the night before. Did she love him the way that he loved her? He looked down at her wrist and caressed it gently with his thumb. Scully held her breath as it happened. The sensation of being caressed by Mulder in such a tender way, in such a sensitive place was too much to handle. Her knees seemed to go weak. Her head was spinning. She couldn't handle it. She wasn't ready to handle it. Not with everything she felt for him. She couldn't risk it. She couldn't risk ever loosing him. Not when she loved this much. It felt so amazing. *Please God make him stop. I can't.* "Thank you." She managed out nervously and began to pull her wrist away from him. Mulder heard the nervous tone of her voice. He felt her tearing her wrist away from him. * Oh God, not again. Why did I do that? Why do I set myself up this way? * He let go. He felt like a lecherous creep. And now he was mad at her, but hated himself 10,000.00 times more. He looked at Scully. Scully took a nibble of her Danish. He could tell she was going to pretend that nothing just happened. He was humiliated. He was grateful that she didn't slap him. But he was still humiliated. He hated himself for being vain enough to think she cared for him that way. Why the hell did he keep deluding himself? He figured it was because he wanted it so badly. He wanted it so badly it felt like he might die. He started the car up and began to drive. The frustration was written all over his face. He stared straight ahead and drove. Scully might have noticed his pain if she hadn't still been reeling from what he'd just done. She was trembling; she'd nearly gone over the edge. She imagined that had she not pulled away. He would have brought her wrist to his lips and kissed it. Then he would have pulled her forward so that his lips might meet hers. Kissing her long and deep. He would have run his hands through her hair. Kissing her all the while, stopping only once or twice to look into her eyes. Then she imagined herself and Mulder sitting in front of Skinner's desk trying to explain to him why they'd been run in by local police for indecent exposure and lewd behavior in a 7/11 parking lot in Cooperstown. She never even gave herself the chance to imagine any of the good stuff, she went straight from the pleasure to the punishment. "So where are we headed?" She asked. "The crime scene. The local chief of police is waiting for us there." He said blankly. The drive to Oak Ridge Hunting Lodge was more than enough time for Scully to finish her Danish and drink her coffee. She nibbled slowly as the awkwardness of the drive was torture. Mulder seemed to have lost his appetite and didn't even touch his coffee. They pulled up in front of what was obviously the crime scene. She saw yellow police tape guarding off a large wooded area. Officers roaming about. Police cars everywhere and ambulance. They got out of the cars and mentally prepared themselves for what they might see. For Scully it was a little easier, although she didn't know it. She was able to take a doctor's perspective of a body. For Mulder is was always a little more personal. He prepared himself, he knew he had seen a lot of disturbing crap in his time on the FBI. But deep inside where he hid things, it always made him angry, and it always made him sad. It was almost like walking into a place where you know that no matter what, you are about to receive a new scar. But in a sense that very same anger and sadness, drove him to try and catch the perpetrators of these crimes. Each time he was scarred by a gruesome crime scene catching the killer was in a sense his way of restoring his own faith that things could be somehow made right. Mulder and Scully walked up to the police tape. They were promptly, greeted by Chief of Police Jack Sumner. A middle height, middle aged man with hardly a hair on his head, and a friendly face. "Are you Agent's Mulder and Scully?" he asked. Mulder and Scully pulled out their badges and showed them to the Chief. He nodded at the badges and they put them away. "I'm Chief Jack Sumner. We've got some strange things going on here. The likes of which. hell, I don't know what to make of it. You two wanna take a look?" Chief Sumner asked. Mulder stepped over the tape and then held it down lower for Scully to step over. They followed Chief Sumner to the site. When they got there they found a man who was obviously in his hunting gear, dead and face down on the ground. "He's the third one we found this way. All with the same tattoo on them. It's on their hand. None of the families of the victims recall these guys having tattoos. We think it's something applied to them sometime either during the attack or after it. Too close to tell." Chief Sumner said. Mulder looked at the area around the victim. "From the look of the footprints in the dirt here this guy was running before it happened. But there doesn't seem to be any other foot prints or tracks around him." Mulder said still searching the ground. Then Mulder stooped down to examine the second to last set of footprints before the dead man's feet. "We figure he must have seen it coming and made a break for it." Chief Sumner said. "Either that.. Or he didn't see it coming." Mulder answered. "What do you mean Mulder?" Scully asked. Mulder looked up to see her. Not a view he had very often. Little Scully above his head. Her fair skin was turning pink on her nose and cheeks from the cold. Her pouty lips pink from her lipstick were turned down to illustrate her confusion at the statement. Her eyes filled with wonder awaiting explanation. *God she's cute.* He thought. "If the murderer is targeting hunters, maybe he waits until the hunter is in pursuit of prey before he kills them. A sort of.." Mulder began "Poetic Justice" Scully finished. "Or confirmation of guilt." Mulder said. Scully pulled out a pair of rubber gloves and walked closer to the body. She knelt down to view it closer. Mulder then stood up and walked to stand behind her. "Let's have a look at this tattoo shall we?" Scully said Scully looked at the tattoo. The puncture wounds were numerous and tiny. It was an odd marking. She had no idea what it was meant to represent. "You recognize it Mulder?" She asked. "Not really." Mulder said. "I want a photo of this and the other victims tattoo's" She said to the chief. "No problem. I'll get them for you. They are, all the same tattoo; no one round here knows what the hell it's supposed to be of.. No one I talked to anyway." Chief Sumner said. "Mulder. Do you notice what I do?" Scully asked. "About his hand?" Mulder asked "The hand, the tattoo runs along his pointer finger to the area between his thumb and on to his thumb." Scully said. "I'll hazard a guess you took his rifle out of that hand." Mulder said to the Chief. "And you'd be right about that. When we took the gun away for evidence. We discovered the tattoos. All of which the family members deny them, having before their deaths. But you know after that second guy we naturally looked for it first thing." Chief Sumner told them. "So the killer is removing the gun tattooing the hand, and then replacing the weapon?" Scully said. "Maybe." Mulder answered. "Or maybe this guy was still alive for a while and picked the gun back up himself." Chief Sumner said. "I think that could very well be." Mulder said. "But all three hunters?" Scully said. "Ever try to separate a man from his hunting rifle?" Chief Sumner asked. "Not really." Scully said. "They don't like to give them up. I know I've done it many a time when guys were hunting out of season." Chief Sumner said. "Was this man hunting out of season?" Mulder asked. "Well that would all depend on what he was hunting." Chief Sumner said. "Has the crime scene been properly searched and photographed?" Scully asked. "It has." Chief Sumner said. "G- Woman ready to get down and dirt-teaaey" Mulder said. "I'd like this body taken to the nearest facility so I can perform the autopsy. I also want the autopsy reports on the other victims." Scully said. "You're gonna do the autopsy?" Chief Sumner asked. "I'm a medical Doctor, yes." Scully told him and walked away. Mulder and Chief Sumner watched. "FBI... Doctor... Authoritative. Hot.. She yours?" Chief Sumner said once he was sure Scully was out of earshot. Mulder assessed Sumner as a straightforward type of guy. Mulder liked that in a person that. He had to laugh at the boldness of the query. But he never had to answer. Suddenly they heard gunshots. "What the?" Chief Sumner shouted. Mulder and the Chief ran as fast as they could in the direction of the sound of the gunfire. "I saw something. It had teeth!" An officer said. "Did you shoot at it?" Chief Sumner asked. Scully arrived at the scene. "What is it? What happened?" She asked breathlessly. "Did you shoot at it?" Mulder asked "I did, I shot at it!" The officer said. "Why?" Mulder asked "It had teeth. a lot of teeth. I didn't know what it was!" The officer said. "Well what did it look like?" Mulder asked. "It looked like teeth! I don't know that's all I saw!" The officer said. "You didn't see anything else?" Scully asked. "Something with teeth came at you so you shot it and you didn't see anything else." Mulder repeated back. "That's right." The officer said. "Well do you think you hit it?" Mulder asked. "No. I didn't hit it. I was trying to run and I fell. my bullet hit high that tree over there.. See it?" The officer said, and pointed to a tree that had obviously been blasted by a bullet. "Nothing else?" Scully said. "I said I didn't see any thing but teeth!" The officer insisted this time growing agitated. "Mulder this guy didn't see anything." Scully said. "Kind of makes me think what you'd be like as a witness." Mulder said. "What, the hell is that supposed to mean?" Scully asked offended. "Nothing." Mulder said and started walking away. Scully followed. Once they were away from the officers, she spoke again. "No, you started it. Let's finish." Scully said, feeling mad that Mulder was taking out his frustration about this guy on her. "Nothing it's just that you don't see anything." Mulder said and started to walk quickly away from her. Scully reached out and grabbed his forearm. Mulder pulled it away hard. * Don't. Don't make me think you love me. I just can't take it anymore.* He thought and he walked off. * Don't follow unless things are going to be different.* He said to himself and prayed that somehow she could hear his plea. Scully did sense that it was important to follow him. Somehow she knew that things would be different if she did. But that they would be much different if she didn't. Things were changing between them. She knew that. And she also knew she'd been fighting the change. Because it frightened her. She knew she had been very cruel to him over the past month. It was only because she knew where things were headed and it frightened her. It frightened her that if she went to that place with Mulder, there would be no way to return to this place. And what if she failed then, she might loose Mulder all together. But what frightened her more now, was the way Mulder was reacting to the lack of change. It seemed to be killing him. She walked after him. She kept a close distance behind. She watched him. His head was hung low, and his hand holding his head. He wasn't even watching where he was going. Scully began to understand what would happen if she didn't catch up to him and straighten this thing out.. * He's right. I don't see anything. What and idiot I am. I've hurt him.* Scully began to run to catch up to him. He'd gotten so far ahead. Suddenly he turned and she lost sight of him the woods. She saw something out of the corner of her eye. She knew it wasn't Mulder. It was something animal. She drew her gun. And targeted the animal. Big mistake. Suddenly something came from her side. She didn't even see it. She felt sharp stinging pain in her hand. The gun fell from her hand. She could not grasp on to it any longer. She'd lost the feeling in her hand. Her vision grew blurry. She dropped to her knees. What ever this thing was she couldn't let it eat her. If that was it's intention. She began to crawl on the ground, blindly searching for her gun. She tried to call out for Mulder, but no sound would come out of her. Her only chance was to find the gun and fire it, so he would hear. Scully grasped around. She found the gun. She tried to squeeze it with her right hand, but she could not. It was nearly paralyzed. She realized this must have been what those hunters went through. She also realized, she'd be passing out soon. She knew the hunters being what they were must have tried to regain their guns to shoot the animal that attacked them. Scully would not take any time to aim. She only needed to fire a shot so Mulder would come. She switched to her left hand rolled over on her back and shot straight into the air. * Hear it Mulder, hear it.* She prayed and then succumbed to the dark. Continued in Part 2 Part 2 She knew the hunters being what they were must have tried to regain their guns to shoot the animal that attacked them. Scully would not take any time to aim. She only needed to fire a shot so Mulder would come. She switched to her left hand rolled over on her back and shot straight into the air. *Hear it Mulder, hear it.* She prayed and then succumbed to the dark. Mulder heard the shot behind him. His heart stopped. *Scully.* He wondered why he'd been so stupid as to leave her alone. "SCULLLLAEEEEEEY!" He yelled as he ran full speed back in the direction from which he came. There was no answer. Not a sound. "SCULLAEEY!" He called again. He searched around frantically for her. "SCULLLAAAAEEEEEEYYY" he called with everything in his soul. Nothing. Mulder searched. He thought he caught site of her coat, on the ground. He ran over. There was Scully. A rumpled mess on the ground. She didn't look good. She was sweating, and pale. He dropped to his knees beside her. Mulder lifted her hand. He saw the marking on her hand that they had seen on the victim earlier. He examined it. He realized. "It's alright. You're going to be alright Scully. I'm here." Mulder comforted her, and brushed the hair away from her face. Mulder lifted her hand, and brought it to his mouth. He sucked on the wound they had thought was a tattoo. He sucked on it and spit. Chief Sumner and some other officers came up to behind him. "What happened? What are you doing Mulder?" Chief Sumner asked. "It's not a tattoo. It's a bite. It's venom." He told him quickly before he took more of it into his mouth and spit it out again nearly gagging. "GeeeZuz" Chief Sumner said. "Venom from what?" one of the officers asked. Mulder had no time to address them any further. He had to get the ink like venom out of Scully's hand. Chief Sumner ordered one of his officers to get the paramedics. Mulder continued on even though he felt his tongue swelling up. He wasn't taking himself into much consideration, even though he was careful not to swallow the poison. He checked Scully's hand the black ink coloring was gone from it. But he repeated the process a few more times just to make sure. He lifted her wrist and checked her pulse. The same wrist he'd caressed only a little while before. Her pulse was there. He touched her face again. He knew all the officers were looking on. The paramedics were on the way, he could hear their feet pounding on the ground toward them. It was lucky they were already on hand to take the body of the hunter. Mulder felt sick. Even though he knew she was out cold or maybe because she was out cold. He leaned over her and brought his lips to her ear. "Hang on Scully.. you have to hang on. I can't make it without you." He whispered. Then he got up stumbled away and puked behind a tree. The paramedics attended to Scully. Mulder once again fell to his knees. He gripped at his stomach and puked some more all the while thinking about what he'd just said to Scully. Wondering if she'd heard him. Wondering what she would think of what he'd said. Wondering if he should have said it at all. He couldn't feel his tongue but it seemed to fill his entire mouth. Mulder heard another gunshot go off. It sounded fairly nearby. He heard Chief Sumner and his men yelling and running off. Mulder figured someone must have tried to shoot the unknown creature again. He couldn't go and see what happened. For one thing he wanted to stay near by Scully, and besides that he was too sick to move. After what seemed like ages a paramedic came up behind. "I think she's going to be fine. I think you may have saved her life." The paramedic said and put his arm on Mulder's shoulder. Mulder gasped. He said nothing of the relief he felt. "Thank God you realized what it was. I never would have recognized that as a bite. What the hell has a bite like that?" The paramedic said. Mulder could only shake his head for a reply. "I'm Mike." The paramedic said and then knelt down to Mulder. "You need to let me look at you now." Mulder lifted his head. Mike checked Mulder's eyes and tongue. Then he gave Mulder a bottle. "Its good that you puked now, I won't have to give you any Epitac to make you do that. Here rinse with this water. Clear up the poison." Mike said. Mulder did as he was instructed. Once Mulder got half way through the bottle. Mike helped Mulder to his feet. "Let's go to the ambulance now. But I want to give you something to coat your stomach, just to be safe." Mike said. Mike helped Mulder to the ambulance. Mulder had to lean on the ambulance door to hold himself up while Mike opened the back door of the ambulance. He thought about what he'd said to Scully, he wondered if she heard him. He wondered if she'd really be alright. He felt like he was going to puke again. He picked up his head and took a breath. He noticed that his hand was over what appeared to be a large blue X on the ambulance. He slowly moved his hand a way to reveal the rest of the ambulance. It was not an X after all. It was the paramedic emblem A blue crossed X emblem with a snake around a staff on it. His large hand had been covering the Caduceus part of it. Mulder stepped back and starred at it. He couldn't help but think there was some meaning behind it. He felt like, it must be telling him that some snake like creature was his X file. That it was a sign of some kind. "Where's Scully?" Mulder asked. "They took her to the hospital in the first ambulance, with another officer who was bit. I came in a second one." Mike said. "I want see her." Mulder said. "We are taking you there now." Mike said, and helped Mulder into the back of the ambulance and on to the cot. Mulder rested his body, but his heart wouldn't rest until he saw Scully was okay. Just before Mike shut the door to the ambulance Chief Sumner walked up. "AGENT MULDER!" Chief Sumner called out. Mulder looked up. "You just helped save one of my men. He was bitten. Thanks to you we were able to extract the poison and keep him from dying." Chief Sumner said. "Chief you better have these woods completely closed off. Don't allow any more hunters out in these woods. You've got a vigilante creature out here. No GUNS! Keep your guns out of site! Make sure all your officers keep their guns concealed. Don't let them back here if they can't do that. " Mulder warned sternly. "Great, I'm looking for a man. and what I got is a creature. better get animal control down here." Chief Sumner said. "NO! No dart guns either." Mulder said. "This is crazy." Chief Sumner said. "It attacks any one who draws a gun. No guns. Make sure." Mulder said. "Well what is this thing?" Chief Sumner said. "Maybe a mutated animal. Or a prehistoric remnant. It's possible that it's a reptile that travels underground like a mole would. Which might explain the lack of tracks. Or it could hang from the trees.. I'd check both." Mulder said. "I heard you were an expert on weird crap. I heard you were paranoid.. I heard you were crazy.but you and your craziness just saved one of my men." Chief Sumner said. "We need to go" Mike said. "Agent Mulder. I never would have figured this. I owe you one." Chief Sumner said. "Oh Good. Then you won't mind my asking" Mulder said. "What?" Chief Sumner asked, wondering if he'd be sorry. Mulder reached in his pocket and tossed his keys out to Chief Sumner, who caught them with ease. "Can you have my car sent to the Hospital. I'm going to need it when I get out." Mulder said. Sumner laughed. "Is that all?" Chief Sumner said. "Well, No, since you asked.. Name your first child after me" Mulder said completely deadpan. "Uh.." Chief Sumner stammered. "But only if it's a girl." Mulder added with a tiny smile of amusement meant only for himself. "You want me to name my daughter Fox?" Chief Sumner asked stunned "Fox? Hell no, that would be silly, name her Mulder." Mulder said. "No deal." Chief Sumner answered. "Okay just the car then." Mulder said. "Yeah, I'll have the keys sent to you." Sumner said shaking his head from left to right and laughing. He was only just realizing he'd incurred Mulder's humorous wrath upon himself. By making references to Mulder's rumored insanity. Mike shut the doors and the inside of the ambulance went dark. The shutting out of the light made Mulder feel very heavy. What had he done? What had he gotten Scully into? Why couldn't he just of left well enough alone and let her be with her mother. And no matter how grateful Chief Sumner was, and even though he knew he'd probably just saved a few others from being bitten, the fact that Scully had gotten hurt made it all seem so hollow. Mike started up the ambulance and began to drive. Mulder lay there in the darkness and listened to the sounds of the road. The sounds of the road matched the feel of the road under his body. He thought himself a loser. No matter how smart, or how good looking. He still hadn't found any of the answers he searched for. Scully didn't want to love him. And that alone was enough to discredit any grand ideas he formerly had about him-self. For a second he wondered if he really was crazy like everyone said he was. He thought bout Scully, maybe if she didn't love him she still needed him some how. He had to see her. He had to see that she was okay. If Scully did need him that was reason enough to go on. Suddenly it seemed like Mike was driving slow, even though he hadn't altered his speed. Mulder just couldn't wait to see Scully. When he got to the hospital and Doctors checked Mulder out one more time, and he was allowed to see Scully. She was still unconscious. One of the Doctors told Mulder that he was pretty sure Scully would be alright, but that he would feel better knowing exactly what kind of animal had bit her. They had figured it was most likely reptile in which case it was not likely rabid. But it would save her the pain of undergoing the rest of the rabies shots they already started administering to her if they could get a hold of that animal. Mulder sat solemnly at Scully's side. Eventually a nurse came into the room. Mulder lifted his head only for a second to acknowledge her and then turned his attention right back to Scully. "These are from Chief Sumner. He says your car is right out front. You should really go home and get some rest now sir." The nurse said and handed him his keys. "We're just visiting." Mulder informed. "Back to your hotel then." The nurse said. "If it's all the same, I'll just stay here." Mulder said. "I have to ask you to go now sir. There is nothing more you can do." She said. "People seem to tell me that a lot." Mulder said. "To go?" the nurse asked. "That there's nothing I can do." Mulder said. "That's probably because it's the truth." The nurse said looking down at Scully sleeping in the bed. "Funny, I've found that most of the time it isn't." Mulder said. Then he grabbed his jacket off the chair and walked out. The nurse shrugged. *"Whatever"* she thought, and then checked Scully's forehead for any sign of fever. Mulder walked down the hallway. He spotted a sandwich machine. He realized he didn't eat anything all day. He pumped some quarters into it. He picked a sandwich. He took it with him out the door. When he got to the car he un-wrapped it and took a bite. Were anyone there they would have seen the look of disgust on his face. He nearly let what he had bit fall out of his mouth, he was so horrified by the taste. Then he just popped the car door open and spit it out. He threw the rest of it on to the empty passenger seat. Where Scully would have been sitting, had he not walked off ahead of off ahead of her. Where Scully should be sitting if he weren't such a jerk. Then he remembered the second Danish was in his pocket. He pulled that out for a bite. Just as revolting. Scully seemed to do alright with it. It must be the taste of the poison still lingering on his tongue. The tossed the Danish next to the sandwich. From the ride over the car was filled with garbage. Waterbottles from Scully. Coffee cups, sunflower seed shells, it was an endless mess. He didn't care. Maybe if the day had gone differently he might have. Mulder drove back to the hotel and went to his room. He took off his jacket and his shoes and his belt and lay down on the bed. He felt discouraged, he felt frustrated and yes even depressed. He rolled onto his side, he saw the phone on the night stand. There would be no late night phone call to Scully tonight. He looked at the adjoining door to her room, and knew she wasn't on the other side of it. He felt her absence everywhere he looked. He wondered how he'd ever get to sleep. Eventually out of sheer sadness he became exhausted and drifted off. It wasn't long before Mulder began to dream. He found himself on the dock of a lake. There was fog, he found himself thinking he must be in an old movie. Then he realized it wasn't black and white. He also realized he was at a lake and there was a ship on the lake. Mulder found that odd. *What's a ship doing in a lake it should be on the ocean, and how did it get here?* He looked around and noticed that through the fog a figure was walking towards him. He wondered who it could be. He didn't feel the need to reach for his gun, as he might have in real life. When the figure was close enough he realized that the man before him was Scully's father. He wasn't even sure he'd even seen her father before maybe in a picture or something but somehow he knew it was him. "You know" Captain William Scully Sr. began as if they were already in the midst of a conversation. Mulder didn't question why. "When I was about to crossover, they gave me a choice." Captain Scully said. Mulder simply nodded understanding. "Some how I knew that my wife and sons would be fine. And they told me that Melissa would be joining me soon. That Melissa was ready and willing to come. That she'd chosen to give herself for Dana before they were even born. But it was Dana, my little Starbuck that almost made me turn back. But something made me ask first. "What of Starbuck?" I asked them. And do you know what they told me?" Captain Scully said Mulder shook his head "No" and sort of mouthed the word with out really saying it. "They told me that she would be bound to the soul that loves her most. And so, I asked if this soul would protect my Starbuck. And they told me again that he was the soul that loved her most and that there were no lengths that this soul would not go to for Dana." Captain Scully said. Mulder looked on in wonder as Captain Scully went on speaking. "They said that this soul had an eternal love for my Dana, and that his love could not be broken or severed, and that heaven smiled upon him because his love for her seemed only to grow with every passing moment." Mulder wondered why Captain Scully was telling him this painful news. And all the while he listened to Captain Scully's story he filled with fear that there was some other soul that Scully was meant to be with. That his own complete inadequacy was the cause of Scully not loving him back. "So I asked to know who this soul was." Captain Scully said. Mulder prayed he wouldn't tell him. "Do you know who they showed me son?" Captain Scully asked. Mulder slowly shook his head from side to side indicating he did not. His heart felt heavy. He didn't want to know who loved Scully more than he. Who Scully was really meant to be with, he'd rather be dead than know. "It was you Fox." Captain Scully said. Mulder looked at Scully's father. And the old man was smiling at him. "And I knew I could move on. I knew that you loved her more than anyone could or ever will, and I knew I could go." Captain Scully said. "But why are you here? Why are you telling me this?" Mulder asked. "So you could know as well." Captain Scully said. "But I'm failing her sir. I'm failing her. " Mulder said feeling as if he'd been reduced to a small lost boy, who never had a father and was in desperate need of guidance. "Why do you think your failing her son?" Captain Scully asked. "Because today she got hurt because I was angry that she doesn't love me back. And it shouldn't matter if she loves me back. It certainly doesn't make me love her any less. So I shouldn't have left her. What kind of partner does that?" Mulder said. Captain William Scully laughed at poor Mulder. "You should know better than that Fox. Do you really believe that Dana doesn't love you? All souls choose ahead of time. What do you think I've been telling you. Just as Melissa chose to give herself for Dana, so had Dana chosen to be with you." Captain Scully said. Mulder found it hard to believe this. "But.she doesn't love me. I still promise you that won't change how I feel." Mulder said. "Fox my boy. Just do as your soul has promised to do. I can guarantee you my Starbuck will do the same. You'll find life does have its rewards. Goodbye." Captain Scully said. Mulder wondered why Captain Scully said Goodbye. He thought it was kind of strange. He wondered if it meant they wouldn't see each other again. Or not for a long while anyway. In his dream he looked at his hand. There was a bite mark on it, and black venom oozing up his arm. *"Scully!"* He called out and then he woke up. Mulder had a bad feeling about Scully's well being. He picked up the phone beside his bed and called the hospital. He inquired about Scully to the nurse. The nurse on duty told him that the doctor said Scully was running a fever, and that it would be better if they had the venom from the animal to make an antidote for her, just in case any of the venom had gotten into her blood stream. Mulder hung up the phone realizing what he must do. He looked at the time 3:00 AM. It would a while before the sun rose. He couldn't wait for the sun. He had to find what ever bit Scully. Desperation over took him. He had to find it. He had to be sure that Scully would be completely safe. He got up, put on his shoes, snagged a jacket and left. He got in the car and started it up. He was still sleepy. He almost lapsed back into his dream. He wondered if it had been real, if Captain Scully really had visited him in his dream. He was more than aware of the concept of Astral travel. In fact he was pretty sure it had happened to him before. But what he really wanted to know was if it had really happened this time. If what Scully's father had said to him was true, then they themselves had chosen to be together, and Scully really did love him. He wanted to believe. The thought of Captain Scully naturally led, to the thought of Mrs. Scully. He wondered if she was okay. He felt awful for taking her daughter away from her. And now with Scully in the hospital he thought of the whole thing as a horrible terrible mistake. He just wanted to get close to her again, and not only did that not happen but now her life was in danger. Could it be a snake with a crazy overbite? More cartoon imagery. Mulder tried to assess everything he knew so far. Everyone who was attacked had a gun. Everyone was bit on the hand in the same place. As Mulder drove, the driving freed his thinking. He felt free to flash on what ever this thing could be. He remembered the paramedics symbol. But what was it telling him? Was it telling him it wasn't and X-file and only a snake or was it telling him it wasn't a snake and was actually an X-file? Either way, he had to get into that forest and find it. And find it fast. He drove up to the woods. He stopped the car and collected a few things and shoved them into his pockets. The repulsive bit sandwich from the hospital, an empty water bottle Scully had left in the car, his flashlight. He got out of the car and walked to the yellow police tape. It was quiet out there, only the sounds of nature, of the earth. He listened to the pebbles crush into hard dirt under his feet as he stepped. He crossed the tape by stepping over it. The wind blew through his hair. He knew he was going out here alone, with out Scully, for Scully. All he really had to defend himself with was his flashlight and his gun. But his own defense was really not what was on his mind. In his mind he gave himself a half hour to accomplish what he needed to do, if he could not accomplish it by then. Things would have to turn drastic. Mulder walked further and further into the woods. He passed trees and shrubs and each one of them seemed to form into something else in the darkness. Each one seemed like a creature ready to pounce. He thought it was time he took out his flashlight. He reached into his pocket and pulled it out. To his dismay the light from it was dim. He knew the batteries would not last much longer. He kept on. Each step grew dimmer, the batteries eventually fizzled out and the forest went black again. Mulder stepped carefully but entangled roots beneath his feet made it hard to walk. He mis-stepped a lot. It would help if he had a clue of what he was looking for. The roots of the forest floor were kind of disconcerting, as he sort of imagined that he was most likely looking for a large snake. It began to rain. Mulder knew it would be harder now with the rain. No one would have been able to tell from the expression on his face, had anyone been there, but he was worried. He pressed on. Always there in the back of his mind, was Scully. Always there in the center of his heart was Scully. At this moment and every moment, even the times he searched for truth. Even all the times he searched for answers. As he read through his X-files and as he looked for his sister. Always there, always beside him and inside his soul, was Scully. The one who made his journey through this life bearable, or just downright possible. He knew he could never go back to ever doing this alone, ever again. And now he was ashamed of himself for letting that need drive him to dragging Scully out here and then leaving her alone to get bit. Mulder looked at his watch 20 minutes had gone by already. Meanwhile back at the hospital Scully awoke still feverish. Scully looked around and realized she was in the hospital. She looked to the chair beside her bed expecting to see Mulder asleep there. He wasn't. She rang for the nurse. When the nurse arrived, Scully didn't even let her get through the threshold before questioning her. "My partner, where is he?" Scully asked. "He left." The nurse replied. "Do you know where he went?" Scully asked. "He said something about people always telling him there is nothing he can do." She said. "He said what?" Scully asked. "He said it's not true." The nurse added. "What's not true?" Scully questioned "That there was nothing he could do for you." The nurse said. Scully reached with her arms and tried to grab the phone beside her bed. The nurse tried to calm her. "You need to rest, you have a fever." The nurse told her. "What I need is a phone!" Scully snapped. Out in the woods the half an hour search Mulder allotted for himself did not come to fruition. He knew that it was time he put the rest of his plan into action. If he were to get an antidote made for Scully he would need the venom. Mulder pulled the sandwich from his pocket. He lay it on the ground. He slipped back behind some shrubs and waited for an animal to approach. A raccoon walked up to the sandwich. Mulder pulled out his gun and aimed at the unsuspecting raccoon. It was only an instant before he felt sharp pains shooting up his hand. He dropped his gun. He tried to see what had bit him, but it was gone already. He looked down and saw the black venom filling his hand in the same pattern as on Scully. Mulder smiled a tiny smile. Success. The phone in his pocket began to ring. He thought it was funny, how it seemed to be screaming. He thought it was Scully. It sounded like Scully. Like she was yelling his name. Yet his body had already become too weak to answer it. He was running out of time and he had to finish the job, he could not stop to answer the phone now anyway. Scully sat on the other end of the line frantic. She had pretty much figured out what Mulder was up to. She needed to reach him and make sure he didn't do what she thought he was doing. After as many answer-less rings as she could tolerate, she hung up the phone and made a second call. This time it was not Mulder she was calling. Mulder dropped to his knees. Everything spun. His hand stung. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the empty water bottle. He sucked on his hand and spit the venom into the bottle. Despite his weariness he kept at it. The darkness made it difficult to tell if he was getting it all out of his hand. But if he could get enough of it into the bottle, they would be able to make an antidote for Scully. Mulder continued to suck on his hand and spit the venom into the bottle. The bitter poison was the bitterest thing he'd ever tasted. Somehow in the midst of it all, he knew it was not even close to the bitterness he would taste if he failed. Mulder squinted at the bottle. He was able to ascertain that 1/4 of it had filled. He gagged and spit up a little. His phone began to ring again. Still screaming, he was once again sure it was Scully. He struggled to reach for the cap so he would be sure not to spill any of the poison, before he even attempted to answer the phone. When he did get the cap out of his pocket and on to the bottle, the phone stopped ringing. Mulder began to try and get to his feet and return to the car. He got up. He fell. He got up again. He walked 3 feet and fell to his knees. He tried to get the phone from his pocket. He dropped it. He couldn't find it. Fearing he would loose the venom, he lay down on his back to get the bottle into the inside pocket of his jacket. Once it was in as securely as he could manage. He began to crawl back to the car. He wondered if Scully would call again. If she did the ringing might help him find it. But then he wondered if he had the strength to crawl back for it. His elbows began to buckle. He crawled for awhile with them trembling till, they gave way and he was flat on his belly. It didn't stop him from crawling though. He pushed with his feet and pulled with his hands, slowly dragging himself to the car. The wet ground made this even more difficult. There was no way he was giving up until he got the venom to the hospital, to Scully. To save Scully. Mulder crawled finally the car was in his site. Light was creeping in. The light was approaching him. As it got closer to him he realized that not only were there headlights coming towards him, but siren lights as well. He knew who it was, and he knew who sent him. Chief Sumner stepped out of his police car. He ran over to Mulder who was sprawled on the ground still crawling. "Agent Mulder what happened?" Chief Sumner asked. "There was a motorcycle gang and some beer that's all I remember. I hope my virtue's still in tact." Mulder said slightly muffled by the fact that his face was in the mud. "Geeze louise. She was right!" Chief Sumner said as he bent down to pick up Mulder. "Scully?" Mulder said as the Chief lifted him up. "She told me what she thought you were going to do.And I said Lady only a crazy person would do that. Then I remembered we were talking about you, needless to say here I am and she was right. " Mulder said. "I suppose you think you're right too." Mulder added dryly. "Hell yeah! You're nuts. but you're a damn fine partner." Chief Sumner said. "I wouldn't go that far." Mulder said as the Chief placed him in the squad car. "Agent Mulder, I had me some good partners in my time. Ones that might even take a bullet for me in the heat of the action. But never one deliberately plan to put them- selves in harms way for me. You're something else buddy, and she must know that to send me out here." Chief Sumner said, as he got in the car himself and started it up. "Can you step on it? We gotta get this to Scully. Gotta see Scully." Mulder said weakly. "Shoot, I get it now." Chief said with a knowing grin. "You love her." He said and he looked over at Mulder for confirmation, only to find he had passed out cold. "Agent Mulder? Agent Mulder are you alright?" Chief Sumner asked. Basset Healthcare Hospital, Cooperstown, NY, Sunday, 7:35 AM Mulder awoke in a hospital bed. He was a little sweaty and a little dizzy, but he knew where he was. He stumbled out of the bed in his hospital dressing gown. Barefoot and cold he walked down the hallway looking to see what floor he was on. Once he figured that out he managed his way to Scully's room. He found her there. Awake, and pink, and watching TV. He was relieved at how healthy she looked. She turned and saw him standing in the doorway. "Mulder, why aren't you in your bed?" She asked. Mulder lifted his hand and pointed at her bed. "Isn't that my bed? Correct me if I'm wrong "Baby Bear", but you're in it." Mulder said. Scully shook her head and smiled slightly. "Mulder, I can tell from here that you have a fever." Scully said more seriously. "Is that why I'm hallucinating?" He joked. "Yes Goldilocks, come and sit down at least." She said. Mulder pulled the chair up close to Scully's bedside and sat in it. Scully reached out her hand and touched his head. It was warm. She ran her hand through his hair, as if to comfort him. Mulder was tired. Slowly he brought his head down to her side, on the bed and rested there. Scully continued to caress his hair. Mulder closed his eyes and was relieved to finally feel her touch again, but he was also saddened because he felt so undeserving of it. In his mind it was his fault she had landed in this hospital bed. He waited a moment, he fully intended to tell her he was sorry and not worthy of her attention. "Scully." He started. But Scully interrupted. "Mulder, about what you did.. getting yourself bit like that." Scully said. "Scully, you can hold off on the lecture, I was about to apologize." Mulder said. "Apologize?" Scully asked. Mulder lifted his head up to see her face. He sat up straight in the chair and looked at her in surprise. "Weren't you just going to tell me how irresponsibly and rashly I acted?" Mulder asked. "Mulder, I was going to thank you." Scully said. Mulder closed his eyes and smiled. A sort of sigh/laugh came out of him. "Thank me for what? Getting you put in the hospital?" Mulder said. Scully reached over to take Mulder's hand. He gave it willingly. She thought about everything that had happened before she was bit. She realized the pain he'd been going through. She realized that she was contributing to his feelings of loneliness. She realized that with out each other, they had nothing. She realized she'd always known this. But it was only now that she decided to do something about it. "Mulder, I don't know how this is going to come out, but I'm going to say it anyway. Thank you. Thank you for being my friend. Being my partner, my confidant. For taking me places and showing me things that no one has ever seen, things I sometimes can't explain. For making me question everything and for putting my science to the test. Working with you has been the most challenging thing of my life." She said, but she noticed that on that point, he frowned. She shook her head and started to caress his hand. "No, Mulder not in a bad way. In a way that has made me feel for-filled. I have learned so much, so many things. So many truths, and just before I got bit by that animal or what ever it was, I was going to tell you all this.and I wanted to thank you for all that you've been to me, and all that you will be.. and for getting yourself bit to save me." Scully said. Mulder looked in her eyes, they were filling with water. He heard what she was saying but he couldn't believe it. Surely she would change her mind once she heard that he dragged her out here, hoping to get closer to her. She would resent that for certain. He had to tell her anyway. If he didn't none of what she'd just said would be the truth. "Scully, no, don't say anymore. You don't understand." Mulder began Scully didn't want to stop. All her emotions for him were flowing out of her now. "Mulder, don't stop me, I finally understand. I can finally say what I feel. What I feel about you. I've made up my mind and I'm telling you." Scully said. "But Scully, you won't feel that way.. you have to know.. I dragged you here. I took you away from your mother on her birthday because I was.." Mulder started, but then he became so mortified by his own actions that he put his head down into his hands and covered his eyes. He couldn't speak any more. He hated himself, but he knew he had to tell her. No matter what the consequence, it hurt even more knowing that she was trying to tell him how much she cared. It hurt knowing that what he was about to say might change that. "I took you away from your mother, I manipulated the situation, to get us on this case. You'd been so far away. I didn't understand why. I thought this case might make things better . I don't know. but I know it was wrong." Mulder said. Scully looked at Mulder sitting there, with his head in is hands, racked with guilt. It hurt her to see him in pain. She knew why he'd done what he'd done. She knew he was trying to get some time to bring them back together. She knew how cold she'd been towards him and it was for one reason only. It was because she was afraid. Afraid to loose him, and now she saw what her fears had done to him. "Oh my God Mulder," she said. He heard her words and feared the worst. Was she repulsed? Her voice didn't sound repulsed. Scully moved closer to him and gently pulled his hand away from his face. "Mulder, you didn't manipulate me. I could have said no. I didn't really want to. Mulder, we have been distant. and it's been my fault. I understand you just wanted to fix that. How can I not appreciate that?" Scully said. Mulder's eyes were squinted as he looked back at her. He had been trying to hold back his pain, and now with just a few words she took it away. His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open a bit. He looked like he was trying to speak. Scully took the opportunity to finish what she'd been telling him all the while. "My God, Mulder. I've just been afraid. Afraid to change anything that we have. Because I just can't be with out you. I can't make it with out you either. My relationship with you has been the best one of my life. I just can't believe that you didn't realize. That you didn't know. how beautiful I think you are." Scully said. Mulder was astonished once again. He felt the same way he did the time she said "He was the only person she'd put her life on the line for." Shocked and thrilled. Not wanting to leave their romantic fate up to the presence of a Root Beer or the absence of an Ice tea ever again. Mulder put his hand up to hers, and matched up their palms, and lined up their fingers. He moved his hand and she moved hers with him. He looked at both their hands where they had been bitten by the creature. They both had puncture marks that lined up with each other in the exact matching pattern. "Look Scully, matching scars." Mulder said. "Life does have its rewards." Scully answered. Mulder looked up at her in surprise. "What did you say?" Mulder asked. "Oh it's just something my father used to say." Scully answered. Mulder looked at her with a funny little shocked look on his face. Perhaps it was true. Perhaps Captain Scully had visited him. Maybe Scully really did love him. "Scully?" Mulder asked in a near whisper. His eyes fixed on hers. It was only a moment but it seemed and eternity was passing between them. Like they could see every bit of one another's souls. "What is it Mulder?" she gasped out. "Do you?. Love me?" he asked "You know that I do." She answered Mulder moved his fingers so that they were now interlocked with hers. Scully tugged his hand slightly forward, to indicate he should come closer. Mulder climbed gently into the hospital bed with her. He wrapped himself around her, his head under her neck resting near her heart. He listened to it softly pound. "Tally ho." Scully said softly "Tally ho?" Mulder asked with a questioning laugh "I've caught a Fox." Scully explained. "You know you can't catch a Fox unless he wants to be caught." Mulder said "I know." Scully said. "Just don't let go of it." Mulder said. "I'd never want to Mulder." Scully said. Mulder slid up to her and looked at her pretty face. She didn't look afraid. He knew this time she wouldn't run away. He gently brought his lips to hers. The kiss was all that Scully had ever dreamed. All that Mulder had ever hoped for. It was a kiss that said, we are together now and for always. Love filled them both. Surrounded them both. Overflowed from their hearts and souls. It was a kiss that had been so long in the making it almost felt like a wedding day. Mulder pulled back from her lips to see her face now that it was done. Scully's eyes were filled with tears. Not of fear or of sorrow, or compassion, but this time immense joy. He smiled at her. He brushed her hair with his hand. He gave her lips another small kiss. He smiled at her again. She smiled back. He slid back down and rested his head again near her heart. He listened. It seemed to be speaking to him. "Hey Scully." He said. "mmm" she answered. "I can hear your heart." Mulder said. "What does it say?" she asked. "Tally ho, Tally ho, Tally ho," Mulder said. "Oh that. That's what it's always said." Scully answered. They smiled and embraced, knowing that everything would be all right now. Now that they understood, the truth. The truth that some how their hearts had always known. The End.